Private Robert Henry Easterbrook
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/41
Name: S/54670 Pte. Easterbrook, Robert Henry.
Unit: Royal Army Service Corps.
Captured: Dunkirk, 6th June 1940.
Escaped: Marienburg, 28th January 1943,
Left: Murmansk, 10th December 1944.
Arrived: Scapa Flow, 18th December 1944.
Date of Birth: 23rd September 1916.
Army Service: Since 9th October 1934. (Reserve Class B).
Peacetime Profession: P.T. Instructor.
Private Address: 3, South Liberty Lane, Swiss Road, Bedminster, Bristol, 3.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured at DUNKIRK on 6 Jun 40.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
Stalag XXA (THORN) 18 - 25 Nov 40.
Stalag XXB (MARIENBURG) 25 Nov 40 - 28 Jan 43.
Working Camp attached Stalag XXB at DEUTSCH-EYLAU. Jan 42 - May 42.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
(a) From ST OMER.
We were ordered to surrender at DUNKIRK on 6 Jun 40. I immediately changed into civilian clothing, which I found in the cellar of a house, and burnt all my army papers, with the intention of getting through to General FORTUNE, commanding the 51st Division, at ST VALERY. Before I was able to get away, I was rounded up with the refugees and taken to the civilian prison camp at ST OMER (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 1, H 15). Two days later I crawled out of the field at night with another soldier. We got as far as DOUAI (Sheet 2, H 60) where we were arrested and sent back to a military prison at CAMBRAI (Sheet 5, N 78).
(b) From CAMBRAI.
I escaped from a Working Party at CAMBRAI at the end of Jul 40. I told the guard who was looking after us that there was a store of wine in a cellar, while he went to fetch it I slipped away. I reached a point South of DOUAI, but was recaptured and sent back to CAMBRAI.
(c) From Train en route for GERMANY.
At the beginning of Aug I was put on a train en route for GERMANY. As the train was slowing down to go through DORTMUND (GERMANY, 1:250,000, Sheet 52, H 72) I managed to get out of the carriage window and climb on to the roof of the wagon. I jumped off with an R.A.S.C. driver (called TINSDALE or TINSLEY) and we made our way back to EINDHOVEN (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 3, E 41) which I reached a few days later. On the way I lost contact with my companion.
I reported to the Mayor who could do nothing to help me. He locked me in his room while he telephoned for the police, but I managed to get out of the window. Two hours later I was caught by German police dogs. From here I was sent to Stalag XX A (THORN). During my journey to EINDHOVEN I was helped by many Dutch people with whom I left my name and address to be forwarded to the U.K. at the first available opportunity.
While I was on a working part at DEUTSCH-EYLAU (GERMANY, 1:100,000, Sheet 43, 7405) attached to Stalag XX B I struck a guard, who had stuck a bayonet into a P/W, and removed his rifle. I was immediately placed under arrest and confined to cells from May - Sep 42. On 1 Sep I was court-martialled in DANZIG and sentenced to three years imprisonment. Dr. MARX, the Swiss lawyer, who defended me, protested at this sentence, and in Nov it was reduced to six months.
4. FINAL ESCAPE.
While I was in the cells in MARIENBURG (Sheet 27, 6790) awaiting confirmation of my sentence, I and a Sapper from the Royal Engineers changed identities with two privates. I bribed the guards with cigarettes to allow us to go to the canteen a few minutes before the guards changed over. We met the two privates at the barracks and they returned to the cells in our place. We assumed their identities.
We remained in the main camp for the night and the next day volunteered to go on a working party. We were sent to work on the railway near MARIENBURG station and escaped from there on 28 Jan 43. We wore overalls under our uniforms, which we removed in the latrines. It had been arranged with other P/W that they would leave in the latrines about 10 lbs of chocolate and vitamin tablets, which we picked up when we removed our uniforms. We also took with us a map and a compass which we had acquired from German civilians. We left early in the morning while it was still dark and set out walking towards GDYNIA (Sheet 13, 3543) with the intention of getting a ship bound for SWEDEN.
We crossed the river VISTULA by a bridge guarded by three sentries. We exchanged a "Heil Hitler" with them and were not stopped for papers. We skirted DIRSCHAU (Sheet 27, 5295) and continued towards SCHONWALDE (Sheet 12, 1439). Near the town we met a Pole to whom we declared ourselves, and he gave us an address of a farmer living nearby who would help us. We contacted this farmer and stayed with him till May, when we left against his wishes.
We walked through the woods to RHAMEL, five miles from GDYNIA, which took two to three days. When we arrived here we made straight for a working party camp attached to Stalag XX B. We cut through the barbed wire and climbed in through a window. We stayed here just long enough to write letters home and collect some food and clothing. As we got out of the camp again my companion became frightened and returned to stay with the farm near SCHONWALDE.
I continued on to GYDNIA, where I contacted many French and Poles living in the area who were willing to help me. I was dissuaded from boarding a Swedish ship, as the Germans were at the time taking very strong measures to guard against possible stowaways by putting dogs on the ships and firing gas shots into the coal bunkers before the ships left.
I remained living in the country near GYDNIA for about eight months. During the time I was here I met a Pole, and together we organised a resistance group. It was given out that I was a British parachutist sent to organise the resistance movement in the area, and we were able to form a band of about 150 men. We raided German farms and collected arms from the foresters, leaving a note promising repayment after the war. During this time we were engaged on various acts of sabotage, and were able to derail one German troop train.
Soon placards describing us were posted about the town offering a reward for our capture. Some months later my companion was caught and shot. By Jan 44 I considered it too dangerous for me to remain any longer in GYDNIA, and set out on my own for WARSAW. The journey took about six weeks and my route was as follows: THORN (Sheet 57, 4075) - BRODNICA (POLAND, 1:300,000, Sheet 44, 5316N) - SIERPE (Sheet 54, 5251N) - PLONSK (Sheet 55, 5237N 2026E). I crossed the river NAREV and reached JABLONA LEGIONOVO (5225N 2055E) about the end of Feb. On the way I sought shelter with a Pole at a small village near PLONSK. While I was resting he sent for the police, who arrested me and marched me off towards the town. As we were going along I gave the guard in front a push and at the same time threw my hat into the face of the guard behind and ran off. They fired at me and I was wounded in the shoulder. I received first aid from a Polish farmer some miles away and was able to continue on my journey.
When I reached JABLONA LEGIONOVO I was recommended to the Polish organisation by a smuggler, who had heard about me in PLONSK, and immediately joined up with them. I remained working for the organisation from Feb 43 until Jul 44. During this time I lived with five other men whose chief job was to shoot traitors. Altogether I killed 19 men and women.
At the end of Jul I was fighting with the partisans on the MARKI (Sheet 55, 5218N 2106E) RADZYMIN (5225N 2112E) WOLOMIN (5224N 2115E) front. We struck where the Germans were weakest. I volunteered to go with two Polish colonels to ask help of the Russians for the relief of WARSAW. We contacted the Russians somewhere between WOLOMIN and RADZYMIN and were immediately sent to their headquarters at MINSK-MAZOWIECKI (5211N 2135E). When we arrived there we were disarmed and our Polish Army papers taken away from us. I was marched out alone and sent to DEBE-WLK (5212N 2027E), where I was interrogated by a Russian lieutenant on the situation in POLAND.
After my interrogation I was put into a cellar, where I met Sgt. COOKE (S/P.G.(G) 2729). My boots, shirt, and jacket were taken away from me while I was here. A few days later I was marched 180 kms in my bare feet to WORSA, 26 km from RADZYN (Sheet 66, 5146N 2288E) a journey which took three days.
WORSA was at that time a Russian General Headquarters, and I was allowed to walk about the village quite freely, still without any footwear. My head was shaved and my only clothing was a pair of trousers. For food I was given a bowl of soup and some black bead twice a day.
On 20 Aug Pte. MANN (S/P.G.(P) 2823) joined me, and from this point my story is the same as his.
ESCAPER'S NAME, etc:- S/54670 Pte EASTERBROOK, R.H., R.A.S.C.
DATE OF INTERVIEW:- 21 Dec 44.
I escaped on 28 Jan 43 from Stalag XXB (MARIENBURG) (GERMANY, 1:100,000, Sheet 27, 6790) with Spr. Horace JOHNSON, R.E., by changing identities with Pte. Edward RANKMORE, Seaforth Highlanders, and another P/W.
During the time that I was in RHAMEL, five miles from GYDNIA (Sheet 13, 3543) between May 43 and Jan 44, I met a Pole called Bernard DIETRICH, and together we formed a resistance band operating from the woods nearby. We spent much of our time going round the district dissuading Poles and Germans from joining up and also encouraging them to desert. DIETRICH was caught and shot by the Germans.
We had many supporters, the most important of whom are given below:-
(1) Mme Wanda ZUAWSKA, Forst Haus Strasse, RHAMEL SARGOSH, NEUSTADT. (GERMANY, 1:100,000, Sheet 12, 1652). Supplied arms, shelter, a wireless and general information.
(2) M. Emil HEBEL, Forst Haus Strasse, RHAMEL SARGOSH, NEUSTADT. General assistance.
(3) Mme. HERRMAN, Forst Haus Strasse, RHAMEL SARGOSH, NEUSTADT. General assistance.
(4) Mme. Gertrude BURANDT, 9 Krume Strasse, KIELAU, GYDNIA, (GERMANY, 1:100,000, Sheet 27, 6790). Food, shelter and ammunition. Rendered first aid to the wounded.
I arrived in JABLONA-LEGIONOVO (POLAND, 1:300,000, Sheet 55, 5225N 2055E) about the end of Feb 44. While I was here I joined the Polish Resistance organisation and lived with one of the leaders of the movement, M. YAMROSE, 4 Lubelska Ulitsa, JABLONA-LEGIONOVO, for about four months. Our job was to kill Polish traitors, and I alone killed 19 men and women.
In Jul 44 I volunteered to go with two Polish colonels to contact the Russians and ask them for assistance for the relief of WARSAW. We made contact with them somewhere between WOLOMIN (Sheet 55, 5224N 2115E) and RADYZMIN (5225N 2112E). We were immediately sent to the N.S.K.W.D. Headquarters at MINSK-MAZOWIECKI (5211N 2135E) where we met General WADIS, General SIDNIVE, Lieut. SOBOLEV alias SOKOLOW, Major LANE, and a Colonel whose number was 024576. We were disarmed and our Polish Army papers were taken from us. I was then marched out alone and sent to DEBE-WLK (5212N 2027E), where I was interrogated by a Lieutenant who spoke English without an accident. (This man questioned me on the situation in POLAND and asked me why the British were sending supplies through TURKEY to GERMANY. He also asked me why the British were sending medical supplies to SWEDEN, whence they were re-exported to GERMANY in exchange for coal. I told him there was no truth in these statements.